Instrumentation lighting

[SBSerpent]

How does the lighting on the VDO gages work? Is there a small light bulb that fits into the back of the gage?

My fuel gage needle lights up nicely but the numbers on backface don't appear as bright as on the other gages. Wondering whether changing out the bulb will help remedy my issue.

[spdbrake]

They use 158 4watt wedge base bulbs.

Your bulb socket may not be fully seated in the gauge causing the dimness, or someone may have installed a off brand bulb.
Snaps out of the back of the the gauges.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vdo-600840?rrec=true


Bulbs (4 to a pack if you'd like them all to look the same) https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vdo-600815?rrec=true
You can get these at NAPA , Autozone etc...

Red bulb boots (They go on mucho easier with squirt of isopropyl alcohol)
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/v...xoChC0QAvD_BwE

Easy access if you pull the speedo out. No need to disconnect it.

[FredG]

If you are looking for something brighter you could probably find some LED's to fit. I went a different route and swapped out the gauges for upgraded Autometers. Carbon fiber ones, with LED lighting, to match my dash and replaced all the colored idiot lights with small LED's. Much brighter.

Originally Posted by SBSerpent

How does the lighting on the VDO gages work? Is there a small light bulb that fits into the back of the gage?

My fuel gage needle lights up nicely but the numbers on backface don't appear as bright as on the other gages. Wondering whether changing out the bulb will help remedy my issue.

[SBSerpent]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

They use 158 4watt wedge base bulbs.

Your bulb socket may not be fully seated in the gauge causing the dimness, or someone may have installed a off brand bulb.
Snaps out of the back of the the gauges.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vdo-600840?rrec=true


Bulbs (4 to a pack if you'd like them all to look the same) https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vdo-600815?rrec=true
You can get these at NAPA , Autozone etc...

Red bulb boots (They go on mucho easier with squirt of isopropyl alcohol)
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/v...xoChC0QAvD_BwE

Easy access if you pull the speedo out. No need to disconnect it.

Just to be clear, there is one bulb in the small gages and two bulbs in the larger gages (speedo and tach)?

Ordered direct replacement T10 red LEDs so hopefully that should dramatically improve the illumination.

[SBSerpent]

Wow! What a pronounced improvement with the LED bulbs!!!

[FredG]

Yep......I felt like I was looking at the dash lights from a car in the 60's with those small incandescents. The LED's really get it done.

Originally Posted by SBSerpent

Wow! What a pronounced improvement with the LED bulbs!!!